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Friday Focus: Connecting community, campus

June 12, 2026

— By Michelle Bartlett, UAF Summer Sessions and Lifelong Learning director

Summer Sessions and Lifelong Learning has evolved in many ways over the past 20 years. One core mission has remained constant: to open UAF’s doors wide and invite the community to take ownership of this campus. The greater the sense of ownership our community feels, the stronger the support for this institution becomes.

We pursue this mission through a variety of programs and events. One of the most visible ways is by hosting 43 evening programs each summer, scheduled at a time when parking is free and community members can easily attend.

Each year begins with the Legacy Lecture, which spotlights a UAF alumnus or alumna who has made a significant mark on the world. The series began with Grace Schaible, and this year featured cinematographer Lenny Kammerling.

Monday evenings are dedicated to the Fairbanks Tall Timber Series, where host Tom Hewitt interviews some of our community’s unsung heroes. On June 8, we honored Darren “Bear” Edson and enjoyed hearing his remarkable story in a way only he could tell it.

Tuesday evenings feature the Healthy Living Lecture Series, coordinated by former regent and interim chancellor Mike Powers. He brings together healthcare professionals who share their expertise on a wide range of health topics.

Wednesdays belong to the Discover Alaska Lecture Series, which, over the years, has explored Alaska through many different lenses. Last year, faculty from the College of Indigenous Studies shared their work. This year, faculty and staff from the Rasmuson Library are highlighting the library’s unique collections and contributions.

These lecture series are presented before live audiences, webcast and professionally recorded. The recordings are later made available on and can be accessed through the Summer Sessions website.

Music in the Garden has become a cherished Thursday evening tradition, featuring live performances in the beautiful Georgeson Botanical Garden. This year, 26 musical groups will perform over the course of 13 weeks. It is magical to watch hundreds of families gather in the garden each week to enjoy the music and community atmosphere.

Then there are our special guests. Over the past two decades, we have welcomed Susan Stamberg, Neil Conan, Bob Edwards, Paula Poundstone, Ira Flatow, Tom Bodett, Peter Sagal, Gloria Steinem, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and this year, on July 14, we will welcome U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

I am often asked, “How did you do it?” The answer is simple: call them, tell them you’re from Alaska, and ask.

All of these efforts are part of a larger message to our community: this is your campus. Come and enjoy it.

Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF's leadership team every week. On occasion, a guest writer is invited to contribute a column.